GitHub - DDecoene/WebBaseIII: dBASE III is back. In your browser. USE customers like it's 1984.
WebBase-III
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#webbase-iii) **dBASE III is back. In your browser. `USE customers` like it's 1984.**
Remember the dot prompt? Before SQL won, before ORMs, before anyone said "full-stack" — there was dBASE III. You typed `USE customers`, then `LIST`, and your data was just _there_. WebBase-III brings that whole world back: the terminal, the language, `BROWSE`, `@ SAY GET` forms, `.prg` programs, indexes, reports — rebuilt from scratch as a modern web app with its own interpreter in TypeScript, backed by Node.js, WebSockets, and SQLite.
**Try it in one click — no install:**
The Codespace installs dependencies and starts the dev server automatically. Open the forwarded port **5173** and you're at the dot prompt.
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Screenshots
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#screenshots)
Terminal REPL
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#terminal-repl) The command interface — type W3Script and see results instantly.
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LIST — tabular record display
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#list--tabular-record-display) `LIST` prints all records in active index order. The status bar shows the active database and table.
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Indexing & SEEK
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#indexing--seek) `INDEX ON name TO BYNAME` creates a SQLite index and activates it — subsequent `LIST` output is sorted alphabetically. `SEEK "Delta NV"` jumps the record pointer to the first match in O(log n).
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BROWSE — editable grid
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#browse--editable-grid) `BROWSE` opens a spreadsheet-style grid. Records are shown in active index order. Tab/Enter to edit a cell, Ctrl+N for a new row, Delete to remove a row, Esc to return to the terminal.
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Program editor
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#program-editor) `EDIT <name>` opens the built-in `.prg` source editor. Programs support the full W3Script language: `DO CASE/ENDCASE`, `DO WHILE/ENDDO`, `IF/ENDIF`, form layouts, and all data commands. Ctrl+S saves, Esc cancels.
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Form engine — `@ SAY GET` / `READ`
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#form-engine---say-get--read) `@ row,col SAY "label" GET variable` lays out character-cell form fields. `READ` renders them as a live form and waits for the user to fill in values and submit.
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The Assistant — sidebar
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#the-assistant--sidebar) The permanent left sidebar with category pickers and action buttons.
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The Assistant — New table wizard
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#the-assistant--new-table-wizard) Wizards open in the main area with a live W3Script preview.
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The Assistant — Modify Structure wizard
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#the-assistant--modify-structure-wizard) `MODIFY STRUCTURE` (or sidebar action) opens the column editor prefilled with the current schema — rename, retype, add, or drop columns, then apply in one click.
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Aggregate commands & dBASE III parity
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#aggregate-commands--dbase-iii-parity) `SUM`, `AVERAGE`, `? ROUND(…)`, `? MAX(…)`, and `SORT ON … TO` — numeric aggregates and sorted copies, honouring the active filter.
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CSV import / export
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#csv-import--export) `COPY TO <file>.csv` exports the current table (browser download); `APPEND FROM <file>.csv` imports via the file picker.
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Features
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#features) | Feature | Details | | --- | --- | | **W3Script interpreter** | dBASE III command dialect: navigation, filters, variables, loops, conditionals, forms, programs | | **BROWSE grid** | Inline cell editing, keyboard nav, index-ordered display | | **Form engine** | `@ ROW,COL SAY … GET` character-cell layout with `READ` | | **Indexing** | `INDEX ON`, `SEEK`, `FIND` — active index controls all record order | | **DO CASE** | Multi-branch conditional, `OTHERWISE` fallback | | **Built-in functions** | `EOF()`, `BOF()`, `FOUND()`, `RECNO()`, `SUBSTR()`, `STR()`, `AT()`, `CTOD()`, `DTOC()` and more | | **Program files** | Save, edit, and run `.prg` scripts with `DO` / `EDIT` | | **The Assistant** | Permanent left sidebar — open databases/tables, browse, filter, CSV import/export, sort, sum/average, index, search, reindex, pack, design reports, run programs without typing | | **Multi-user** | Each WebSocket connection gets its own isolated interpreter session | | **Live propagation** | Edit a record in one session and every other session BROWSE-ing that table refreshes automatically — no re-query | | **Persistent storage** | `better-sqlite3` with WAL mode — databases survive server restart |
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The Assistant
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#the-assistant)
The sidebar on the left drives everything without typing: open or create databases and tables, browse and filter data, import/export CSV, sort into a new table, sum or average a numeric field, build indexes, search, reindex, pack the database, design and run reports, run programs, and modify table structure. Every click generates a real W3Script command that echoes into the terminal — watch it to learn the language. Wizards (New table, Filter, Sort, Sum/Average, Modify structure, report designer, …) open in the main area and show a live preview of the command they will run.
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Quick start
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#quick-start)
npm install npm run dev # http://localhost:5173
Production:
npm run serve # builds, then serves everything on http://localhost:3000
LAN / Tailscale: the server binds to `0.0.0.0`, so `http://<tailscale-ip>:3000` works out of the box.
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Example session
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#example-session)
``` USE DATABASE mydb CREATE TABLE customers (name CHAR(40), phone CHAR(20), country CHAR(30)) USE customers
APPEND RECORD REPLACE name WITH "Acme Corp", phone WITH "555-1234", country WITH "BE" APPEND RECORD REPLACE name WITH "Zeta Ltd", phone WITH "555-5678", country WITH "NL"
INDEX ON name TO BYNAME LIST * sorted A→Z
SEEK "Zeta Ltd" * jump to record instantly BROWSE * open editable grid SET FILTER TO country == "BE" LIST * filtered view SET FILTER TO * clear filter ```
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W3Script command reference
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#w3script-command-reference)
Work areas
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#work-areas)
WebBase-III supports **unlimited work areas** — each independently holding a table, record pointer, filter, and index. Link areas by key field using `SET RELATION TO` for relational data access. Cross-area field access uses `alias.field` dot notation.
> **Note:** dBASE III supported a maximum of 10 work areas (DOS file handle limit). WebBase-III has no such limit. dBASE III used `alias->field` arrow syntax; WebBase-III uses modern `alias.field` dot notation.
| Command | What it does | | --- | --- | | `SELECT <alias>` | Activate (or create) a work area by name | | `USE <table> [ALIAS <name>]` | Open table in active area; optional alias override | | `SET RELATION TO <expr> INTO <alias>` | Link active area to another; auto-seeks on every navigation | | `SET RELATION TO` | Clear relation on active area | | `LIST [col, alias.col, ...]` | List records; optional column list with cross-area fields | | `LIST AREAS` | Show all open work areas, pointers, indexes, and relations | | `CLOSE` | Close active area's table | | `CLOSE ALL` | Close all work areas, reset to single empty area `1` |
**Cross-area field access**: use `alias.field` dot notation anywhere an expression is accepted — `SET FILTER TO`, `IF`, `REPLACE`, `LIST`, `INDEX ON`.
Data & navigation
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#data--navigation) | Command | What it does | | --- | --- | | `USE <table>` | Select a table; restores any saved active index | | `USE DATABASE <name>` | Open a named SQLite database | | `LIST` | Print records in active index order (up to 500) | | `LIST STRUCTURE` | Show column schema | | `LIST TABLES` | Show all tables with record counts | | `LIST DATABASES` | Show all databases on disk (alias: `LIST DBS`) | | `BROWSE` | Open the editable grid | | `CLEAR` | Clear terminal output | | `CREATE TABLE <n> (col TYPE, ...)` | Create a table | | `DROP TABLE <name>` | Delete a table | | `APPEND RECORD` | Insert a blank row | | `DELETE` / `DELETE ALL` | Delete current or all records | | `PACK` | VACUUM the SQLite file | | `GO TOP` / `GO BOTTOM` / `GO <n>` | Move record pointer | | `SKIP <n>` | Move pointer forward/back | | `REPLACE <field> WITH <val>, ...` | Update field(s) on current row | | `REPLACE ALL <field> WITH <val>, ...` | Update all (filtered) rows | | `SET FILTER TO <expr>` | Set a WHERE clause; empty clears it | | `SUM <field> [FOR <cond>] [TO <var>]` | Total a numeric field over the current table (honours active filter); `TO <var>` stores the result in a variable instead of printing | | `AVERAGE <field> [FOR <cond>] [TO <var>]` | Mean of a numeric field over the current table (honours active filter); `TO <var>` stores the result in a variable instead of printing | | `COPY TO <file>.csv` | Export current table to a CSV download (honours filter + index order) | | `APPEND FROM <file>.csv` | Import a CSV (browser file picker) into the current table | | `MODIFY STRUCTURE` | Open the Modify-structure wizard for the active table | | `ALTER TABLE <t> ADD <col> <type>` | Add a column to a table | | `ALTER TABLE <t> DROP <col>` | Remove a column from a table | | `ALTER TABLE <t> RENAME <col> TO <new>` | Rename a column | | `ALTER TABLE <t> ALTER <col> <type>` | Change a column's type (copy-table dance; data preserved) |
> Column ops that can invalidate an index (DROP, RENAME, ALTER type) drop all of the table's indexes and warn you to rebuild with `INDEX ON`.
> **CSV format (`COPY TO` / `APPEND FROM`):** Unlike dBASE III's headerless, positional `DELIMITED`/`SDF` formats, WebBase-III uses modern **header-based CSV** (RFC-4180, mapped by column name). Export downloads through the browser and honours the active filter + index order. Import opens a file picker and is lenient: up to 10 bad rows are skipped and reported (line + reason); more than 10 aborts with nothing appended. Limits: 5 MB import, 50,000-row export.
Indexing & search
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#indexing--search) | Command | What it does | | --- | --- | | `INDEX ON <expr> TO <tag>` | Create index on expression; sets it active immediately | | `SET INDEX TO <tag>` | Activate a previously created index | | `SET INDEX TO` | Clear active index — restores natural insert order | | `REINDEX` | Rebuild SQLite indexes for current table | | `LIST INDEXES` | Print all indexes for current table with `*` active marker | | `SEEK <expr>` | Position record pointer at first index match | | `FIND <string>` | Alias for SEEK (unquoted string — dBASE III legacy form) | | `SORT ON <field>[/D] TO <newtable>` | Write a sorted copy of the table to a new table; `/D` = descending; honours the active filter | | `JOIN WITH <alias> TO <file> FOR <cond> [FIELDS <list>]` | Materialize a snapshot table by joining the active area with `<alias>`; honours the active filter |
> **`JOIN` differs from classic dBASE III:**`FOR` is **required** (dBASE allowed omitting it); cross-area fields use `alias.field` dot syntax (not `alias->field`); `FOR` is a SQL predicate (like `SET FILTER`); the join runs on SQLite's planner, not an O(n×m) nested loop; on a column-name clash the active table wins and the duplicate is dropped **with a warning** (dBASE dropped it silently); and there are no 128-field / 10-char-name limits. > >
> _Limitation:_ if a `SET FILTER` is active on the source area, its predicate is applied to the joined query; a filter referencing a column whose name exists in both joined tables may be ambiguous — qualify it or clear the filter before JOIN.
Reports
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#reports) | Command | What it does | | --- | --- | | `CREATE REPORT <name>` | Create a new report definition (opens JSON editor) | | `MODIFY REPORT <name>` | Edit an existing report definition | | `REPORT FORM <name>` | Run report — ASCII to terminal + HTML preview panel | | `LIST REPORTS` | List all saved report definitions | | `DELETE REPORT <name>` | Delete a report definition |
Programs
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#programs) | Command | What it does | | --- | --- | | `DO <name>` | Run a saved `.prg` program | | `EDIT <name>` | Open `.prg` source editor | | `LIST PROGRAMS` | Show all saved programs |
> Demo programs live in `demos/*.prg` and are the single source of truth: they are seeded into the program store on every server start, overwriting any store copy. Matching report definitions live in `demos/reports/*.json` and are seeded the same way. > > > Two of them are **usable example apps** you can build off — run them, then `EDIT` to adapt: > > > * **`DO crm`** — a mini-CRM: companies, contacts, and deals with pipeline totals (`SUM … FOR`), top-deals sort, a grouped report, CSV export, and a companies+deals JOIN. > * **`DO inventory`** — a stock manager: categories, products (with reorder levels), and a stock-movements ledger, plus valuation totals, a low-stock report, sort, CSV export, and a products+categories JOIN. > > > Both lean on multi-work-area relations (`alias.field`), indexes, and `@ SAY … GET`/`READ` forms, and invite you to open a second window to watch live multiuser propagation.
Variables & I/O
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#variables--io) | Command | What it does | | --- | --- | | `? <expr>[, <expr>...]` | Evaluate expression(s) and print the result (numbers right-justified; bare `?` prints a blank line; `??` also accepted) | | `STORE <val> TO <var>` | Assign a variable | | `INPUT "prompt" TO <var>` | Collect keyboard input | | `@ r,c SAY "text" GET <var>` | Define a form field | | `READ` | Display the form and wait for submit |
Control flow
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#control-flow) | Command | What it does | | --- | --- | | `IF <cond> … ENDIF` | Conditional block | | `DO WHILE <cond> … ENDDO` | Loop | | `DO CASE … ENDCASE` | Multi-branch conditional (`CASE`, `OTHERWISE`) | | `HELP` | Print command reference | | `QUIT` | Exit |
Built-in functions
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#built-in-functions) Functions work anywhere an expression is accepted — `IF`, `DO WHILE`, `STORE`, `REPLACE`, `INDEX ON`, `SET FILTER TO`, etc.
| Function | Returns | | --- | --- | | `EOF()` | True if record pointer is past last record | | `BOF()` | True if record pointer is before first record | | `FOUND()` | True if last `SEEK` / `FIND` matched | | `RECNO()` | Current record number | | `RECCOUNT()` | Total records in current table | | `UPPER(str)` | Uppercase | | `LOWER(str)` | Lowercase | | `TRIM(str)` | Strip leading and trailing spaces | | `LTRIM(str)` | Strip leading spaces only | | `SUBSTR(str, start, len)` | Substring — 1-based; `len` optional (to end) | | `LEN(str)` | String length | | `AT(needle, haystack)` | 1-based position; 0 if not found (case-sensitive) | | `STR(num, len, dec)` | Number to right-justified string; default len=10, dec=0 | | `VAL(str)` | String to number; non-numeric → 0 | | `INT(n)` | Truncate toward zero | | `ABS(n)` | Absolute value | | `SPACE(n)` | String of n spaces | | `REPLICATE(str, n)` | Repeat string n times | | `DATE()` | Today as `MM/DD/YY` | | `DTOC(date)` | Date to display string `MM/DD/YY` | | `CTOD(str)` | Display string `MM/DD/YY` to ISO date | | `ROUND(num, dec)` | Rounds number to `dec` decimal places (default 0) | | `MOD(a, b)` | Remainder of `a` divided by `b` | | `MAX(a, b)` | Maximum of `a` and `b` | | `MIN(a, b)` | Minimum of `a` and `b` | | `TIME()` | Current time as `HH:MM:SS` | | `YEAR(date)` | Numeric year from ISO date string | | `MONTH(date)` | Numeric month from ISO date string | | `DAY(date)` | Numeric day from ISO date string |
Boolean literals
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#boolean-literals) W3Script supports both styles:
| Syntax | Value | | --- | --- | | `TRUE` / `FALSE` | Boolean true/false | | `.T.` / `.TRUE.` | Boolean true (dBASE III style) | | `.F.` / `.FALSE.` | Boolean false (dBASE III style) |
Boolean values display as `.T.` / `.F.` in output to match dBASE conventions.
Logical operators are accepted in both styles too: `NOT` / `.NOT.`, `AND` / `.AND.`, `OR` / `.OR.` (e.g. `DO WHILE .NOT. EOF()`).
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BROWSE grid keyboard shortcuts
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#browse-grid-keyboard-shortcuts) | Key | Action | | --- | --- | | Arrow keys | Navigate cells | | Enter / F2 | Edit selected cell | | Tab / Shift+Tab | Move right / left | | Ctrl+N | New row | | Delete | Delete current row | | F5 | Refresh from DB | | Esc | Exit grid, return to terminal |
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Architecture
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#architecture)
``` server/ index.ts Node.js HTTP + WebSocket server (port 3000) Session.ts Per-connection session: parses commands, drives Executor SessionManager.ts Tracks all active sessions ServerDatabaseBridge.ts IDatabaseBridge impl wrapping better-sqlite3 ProgramStore.ts .prg program storage in data/system.sqlite3 IndexStore.ts Index metadata + active index in data/system.sqlite3
src/ interpreter/ Lexer.ts Tokenises W3Script input (case-insensitive) Parser.ts Recursive-descent AST builder Executor.ts Async AST runner; manages db/table/filter/vars/rowPtr/activeIndex Builtins.ts Stateless built-in function implementations
terminal/ Terminal.ts REPL UI — command history, multi-line block accumulation
ui/ Grid.ts BROWSE spreadsheet — inline cell editing, keyboard nav FormLayout.ts @ SAY GET form engine — character-cell coordinates ProgramEditor.ts .prg source editor UI
ws/ WsClient.ts Browser WebSocket client ```
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Running tests
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#running-tests)
npm test # unit + integration tests (Vitest) npx playwright test # end-to-end browser tests (auto-starts the dev server)
The Playwright suite drives a real browser against the running app and covers the REPL, filters, indexing, programs, forms, BROWSE, the Assistant wizards, multi-work-area, the parity commands (`?`/`??`, `SUM`/`AVERAGE`, `SORT ON … TO`), and CSV `COPY TO`/`APPEND FROM`. CI runs both Vitest and Playwright on every PR.
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Contributing
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#contributing)
Contributions are welcome! WebBase-III uses **GitFlow** — fork the repo and open your PR against the **active `release/vX.Y.Z` branch** (the open milestone), not `main`. See CONTRIBUTING.md for the full fork → release-branch workflow and the Definition of Done.
Contributors
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#contributors) Huge thanks to everyone who has helped extend WebBase-III:
- **@kas2804 (Kasturi Rajarampatil)** — added the `ROUND`, `MOD`, `MAX`, `MIN`, `TIME`, `YEAR`, `MONTH`, and `DAY` built-in functions (#4, PR #17) — clean, well-tested work that brought the W3Script expression engine closer to full dBASE III parity. 🙌
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License
[](https://github.com/DDecoene/WebBaseIII#license) AGPL-3.0 — see LICENSE.md.
Why AGPL? WebBase-III is a toy, and the license keeps it that way: anyone can use it, fork it, and learn from it, but nobody can take it closed and sell it as a hosted service without giving their changes back. If you want to run it, hack it, or ship features from your dBASE memories — that's exactly what it's for.